
When I engage in pretend play in the Flower Shop, I am working on my communication skills and my social skills! I can water the plants. I am learning that plants need sun and water to grow, and I am using self-regulation when I add just a little water to each cup. Working the garden is amazing for preschoolers!
They help plant seeds and small plants and then they water them and watch them grow each day. We are learning so much! First Discoveries Academy offers a variety of early learning programs to meet the needs of children and families:. Our Brandon/Valrico location is proud to be the only local school endorsed as Eco-Healthy by the Children's Environmental Health Network since 2015.
They help plant seeds and small plants and then they water them and watch them grow each day. We are learning so much! First Discoveries Academy offers a variety of early learning programs to meet the needs of children and families:. Our Brandon/Valrico location is proud to be the only local school endorsed as Eco-Healthy by the Children's Environmental Health Network since 2015.
Services
Founded in 2008, First Discoveries began as a small, family-run school with a commitment to creating amazing learning environments for young children. Our program began as a very small preschool, serving just 7 children in a summer camp in South Tampa.
Over the summer of 2008 and throughout the following school year, our program continued to grow with more children, more classrooms and more staff, until our South Tampa location reached a capacity of 90 children.How blessed we were to grow so quickly! In 2015, we expanded our program by adding a new location in the Brandon/Valrico area.
Over the summer of 2008 and throughout the following school year, our program continued to grow with more children, more classrooms and more staff, until our South Tampa location reached a capacity of 90 children.How blessed we were to grow so quickly! In 2015, we expanded our program by adding a new location in the Brandon/Valrico area.
First Discoveries Academy is proud to be the only Eco-Healthy, Nature-Inspired early childhood program in the Brandon / Valrico area. Our goal is to create the healthiest possible learning environments, including both our classrooms and our playgrounds, so that we can nurture children's minds, bodies, and spirits.
We are currently accepting wait list applications for the 2019-2020 school year. Some families are waiting for final confirmation of their state scholarships for final enrollment, and there is a possibility that we might have some openings in some classrooms. We expect to know about those openings in late July or during the first week of August.
We are a nature-inspired early learning program serving children ages 2.5 years old through first grade. How are you protecting my child's health and safety at school? Today and every day, we promise that your child will be cared for in an environment that is safe, loving, and healthy. We offer half-day, school day and extended day schedules to meet the needs of your family.
On a shaded playground, with towering oak trees, children stand before easels with cups of orange, green, brown, and yellow paints in many shades. They have just listened to Ms. Ashley read a story called Leaf Man by Lois Elhert. After listening to the story, they looked at several pages together and noticed the way that the author and illustrator used fall colors to create a story.
Reviews (8)
Brooke Eddy
Jan 08, 2022
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These staff here are absolute gems! My children attended a Waldorf school in Palm Harbor Florida and when we moved to the Brandon area we were looking for another play based learning program. I loved them spending a good deal of time outside in their beautiful play yard everyday compared to the public school they are in now. Play based learning is how children are supposed to learn. It honors where they are developmentally and I was so grateful to have found a school in this area who knows this. I love love love all of the teachers at this school. They are well educated and truly love the work
Shonna Wilson
Aug 16, 2020
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A great school. Teachers are awesome there. They really love what they do and it shows on there faces when they interact with their kids. It's definitely not a daycare. Those kids are learning every minute and the interactions between the children and teachers are very meaningful. I love first discoveries.
Molly
Jan 05, 2020
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Crystal Owens
Nov 13, 2019
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This daycare advertises as one that caters to special needs children. Our son has a language delay and trouble with transitioning. After less than 10 minutes alone with my son, their director called to have me pick him up because he was having a meltdown. Fair enough. So, instead of telling us from the day of the observation, she waited two weeks "to give him a chance" all the while telling us he would require an ABA therapist (which after countless doc and therapist visits has never been recommended). Our insurance doesn't cover it because our son does not have an autistic diagnosis. Because she
Mikaela Gonzalez
Aug 08, 2019
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Absolutely amazing school. So hands on, with play based learning. They do so well with helping kids understand their feelings and how to play nice with their friends. Lots of events that parents get to be a part of. The older kids get to garden, and everyone gets to visit the goats! Lots of options to help find a schedule that fits your life. Teachers are so amazing and nice, my son adores all of them. They are also the only school in the area verified to use about 90% organic ingredients when making the kids fresh cooked meals. I reccomend everyone with kids about this place.
B. Malo
Jan 25, 2019
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First Discoveries has been an amazing blessing for our family. My son has blossomed through the 2 years he has been at the school. We love the school so much that we are staying for his Kindergarten year! The way the teachers interact with the children is downright amazing. I have never once heard anything but true positivity. He is excited everyday to go to school, and he loves to talk about all the things he learns and plays with during the day!
Whitney Blatt
Oct 15, 2017
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My daughter attend VPK here and absolutely loves it. Miss Ashley and Miss Debbie are her teachers and they are wonderful with kids. My daughter is always in a great mood when I pick her up, even though she doesn’t want to leave. The app they use for communication and checking in/out is very convenient for parents.
Yesenia Hernandez
Aug 10, 2017
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I cant say ENOUGH good things about this school and how amazing they have been with my Son. Ms.Ashley is his teacher and she is so patient and Kind, her strategies on working with challenging behavior is exceptional compared to the typical overwhelmed teachers who just send the kids on time out things like Ive seen at other schools. Ms. Cindy is the owner and although she runs another school in South Tampa she is always available, replies to all my emails right away and is never bothered if I talk about something to her for to long. I also love their menu always healthy and not just “kiddy foods”